Last week, the Food and Drug Administration handed down a consequential decision affecting millions of consumers: a marketing denial order for the pod-based Juul vaping company. This forced gas stations, convenience stores, and vape shops…
Browsing Category Charlotte Observer
End North Carolina’s archaic monopoly on liquor sales
When it comes to alcohol policy, North Carolina is more an outlier than exemplar. Though ours is among 17 states with an alcohol control system, where the state retains monopoly control of part of the…
How the Carolinas could suffer from Trump’s tariffs
In the last election and on the global stage, President Donald Trump talked tough on trade. It’s us versus them and we’re losing, he says. Put simply, he views the current trade deficit, when we…
N.C. alcohol rules should join the 21st century
Imagine you’re prepping a dinner party for 10 friends. You pull out your smartphone and fill your Amazon shopping cart with the best meats, vegetables and delectable cheeses. Then, a bottle of Californian Cabernet Sauvignon…
Why should banks pay taxes while credit unions get a break?
In Springfield, Missouri in August, President Donald Trump laid out the core motivation of his comprehensive tax plan: fairness. If Congress and the administration are serious about making America’s tax structure fairer, their first action…
Let’s get real about N.C.’s alcohol laws (including the drinking age)
North Carolina can no longer afford its Temperance-era alcohol laws. Across the state, a new generation of beer entrepreneurs are giving the Tar Heel State some much needed pride. Worth over $1.2 billion, our craft…
Don’t kick out the Dreamers, Mr. Trump
As a man fond of deals, President-elect Donald Trump can appreciate that he controls the fate of one of the largest political deals in recent history. Once he assumes office on Jan. 20, he’s expected…